AB235: Bill Text

LRB-2332/1

JTK:jlg:jf

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 235

March 23, 1999 - Introduced by Committee on Campaigns and Elections. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB235,1,3 An Act to create 11.60 (3n) of the statutes; relating to: false reporting of certain disbursements and obligations under the campaign finance law and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, if an individual who or committee which is required to file a report under the campaign finance law files a false report, the individual or committee is subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) of not more than $500.

This bill provides, in lieu of this penalty, that if an individual who or committee which makes disbursements (expenditures) or incurs obligations in support of or in opposition to a candidate independently of any candidate who is supported or whose opponent is opposed files a report which indicates that the purpose of one or more disbursements made or obligations incurred in support of or in opposition to any candidate, as previously reported by the individual or committee, has been changed, and the report understates or overstates by more than $5,000 the cumulative amount of those disbursements or obligations as of any date during the seven-day period preceding any primary or other election, the individual or committee must forfeit an amount equal to the amount overstated or understated in excess of $5,000.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB235, s. 1 Section 1. 11.60 (3n) of the statutes is created to read:

AB235,2,11 11.60 (3n) Notwithstanding sub. (1), if an individual who or committee which is required to file a statement under s. 11.06 (7) files a report under this chapter which indicates that the purpose of one or more disbursements made or obligations incurred in support of or in opposition to any candidate, as previously reported by the individual or committee, has been changed, and the report overstates or understates by more than $5,000 the cumulative total amount of those disbursements made or obligations as of any date during the 7-day period preceding any primary or other election at which the name of that candidate appears on the ballot, the individual or committee shall forfeit an amount equal to the amount overstated or understated in excess of $5,000.

AB235,2,12 (End)